The 11 March Japan Disaster

1 year after - panel on the CTBTO's contributions

The Colloquium CTBTO Past and Future Contributions to Emergency Preparedness: Fukushima Case Study on 9 March 2012 discussed the use of CTBTO data to enable national authorities to issue timely tsunami warnings and assess the dispersal of radioactive emissions after a nuclear accident. Participants included Denis Flory, Deputy Director General from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Wolfgang Weiss, Chair of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) and a number of other international organizations.

CTBTO’s Fukushima-related measurements

During the first phase of the 11 March disaster, CTBTO data helped Japanese authorities issue timely tsunami warnings. The data from about 20 seismic and hydroacoustic stations were sent directly and in real time to seven warning centres in the region, including in Japan and the United States (Hawaii) - see press release. Later, the radionuclide stations of the CTBTO’s International Monitoring System (IMS) detected radioactive isotopes and noble gases stemming from the damaged Fukushima power plant, among them Iodine-131 and Caesium-137.

Emergency response cooperation intensified

Following the disaster, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has initiated closer cooperation between relevant international organizations. Read the 25 March 2011 press release here.

The CTBTO started sharing its monitoring data and analysis reports with the IAEA and WHO. Read the 18 March 2011 press release here.

On 15 September 2011, the UN released a report on the international response to the Fukushima crisis acknowledging the crucial role of the CTBTO.

A host of scientific and civil applications

Rapidly acquiring and disseminating data on earthquakes - in particular on potentially tsunami-generating earthquakes, aiding plane crash investigation, research on ocean processes and marine life, monitoring volcanic explosions, ice shelf break-up or providing critical information on nuclear accidents - these are just some of the many potential applications apart from verifying the nuclear test ban.

Austrian institute reports on spread of radioactivity

Isotope measurements published by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection.

Data published by German institutes

The German Federal Radiation Protection Agency (BfS) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) have also published comprehensive data on the CTBTO’s Fukushima-related findings on their respective websites.

One of 1,200 institutes in the 120 Member States currently receiving CTBTO monitoring data and analyses. Click image for more on data distribution to Member States.

Philippine Institute provides data on Fukushima

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) provided up-to-date information on measurements by the CTBTO’s radionuclide monitoring station in the country, as well as from its national samples of soil, water, and fish.

Japanese think tank publishes data from nearby CTBTO station

The Tokyo-based Center for the Promotion of Disarmament Non-Proliferation (CPDNP) has published data from the measurements of the radionuclide station RN38, which is located at around 200 kilometres distance from the Fukushima power plant.

Radiation data from Japanese disaster starts to filter out

"Japan and other countries have their own national radiation protection services, but where we could be useful is the worldwide nature of our monitoring network", Lassina Zerbo, Director of the CTBTO’s International Data Centre, is quoted (Nature magazine).

Fukushima: Another reason to ratify the CTBT

“The utility of this monitoring system during this terrible time should serve as a reminder to the Obama administration and the Senate that ratifying the CTBT would strengthen both US and global security.” (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists)

UN, diplomats seek to dispel nuclear anxiety

“A diplomat with access to radiation tracking by the U.N.'s Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization in Vienna cited readings from a California-based measuring station of the agency as about a billion times beneath levels that would be health threatening.” (Associated Press)